Author: Caryn

Review: Why Do We Cry? By Pintadera & Sender

Feelings and emotions are such difficult things to understand. Even as a grown-up I realize that I am learning more every day about myself and how my body works. And thankfully, beautiful picture books continue to be made that help inform and also delight by meeting questions with beautiful ways of answering. Have you ever wondered why we cry? Well, I can now say, there’s a really fantastic book for that! Take a peek at Why Do We Cry? by Fran Pintadera, illustrated by Ana Sender, published in Spain in 2018, and translated to English in 2020.

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Review: Tight Times By Shook Hazen & Schart Hyman

I think we’re all tired of hearing that it’s been a difficult, weird, hard, strange, unprecedented [insert over-used adjective here] year. Even more so, we’re all tired of living it. While I continue to prep posts about new and newish books (I have so many!); I also love the classics, vintage, obscure older books that speak to timeless issues. They can be so comforting, surprising, and reminders of days past – a reminder that we’ll get through this too.

Today I wanted to drop in with a book I’ve thought about often over this year. I collected it years ago as it is one of my favorite children’s book illustrators ever. I am incredibly drawn to her style and choices and lines – but I’m getting ahead of myself. Join me in this lovely, difficult, emotional, and yet so perfectly childlike book about rough economic times in a city family. Check out Tight Times by Barbara Shook Hazen, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, 1979.

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Review: Sunny-Side Up By Davis & Woodcock

Sometimes days just don’t go as we want them to. It’s a hard thing for grown-ups and kids alike to respond well to having to be flexible or creative with our plans. Enter this book, because there is a book for everything, and this new one is fantastically fun! Sunny-Side Up by Jacky Davis, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock, 2021, is a simple and beautiful story about plans, emotions, creativity, and turning a gloomy day sunny-side up. Have a look.

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Review: Black Heroes By Norwood & Magloire Williams

I am so excited to finally grab a copy of this new book for our shelves! Full of fantastic snapshots of 51 inspiring figures in Black history – this book is an excellent read, resource, and jumping-off point for further exploration. Take a look at Black Heroes by Arlisha Norwood, PhD, and illustrations by Anastasia Magloire Williams, 2020.

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Review: Outside, Inside By LeUyen Pham

I have a new favorite book. A bold statement to make, but it is in fact, a new favorite. It speaks to the moment currently at hand, this horrid year and more that we as a collective humanity are dealing with and learning from the pandemic. But it will also serve as a reminder and a memory and a memento when this situation is over. This book encapsulates so much of the arc of what we are experiencing and what we all hope to see on the other side incredibly soon. I also hope that it becomes a classic of some sort, a reminder for every generation after this of something that was so big and so awful and so hard that only some of us made it through and are forever changed as a result. This is a stunning book, a this-very-moment book, and a hope-filled book. Please go get this book, for yourself and for everyone you love. We all need it, now and after. Take a look at Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham, 2021.

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